Man accused of causing crash that killed bride seeks lower bail

Prosecutor says man was drinking before crash

A probable cause hearing was waived Wednesday for the man accused of causing a drunken driving crash that killed a new bride and seriously injured her husband.

The attorney for 43-year-old Matthew Tsopas asked to reduce his bail. The judge has not made a decision yet.

"These are some of the hardest cases to set bail on because you have someone who has no significant history, but someone who behaved in an incredibly aggressive manner," said County Attorney Thomas Velardi.

In court, Velardi said Tsopas was drinking at the American Legion in Rollinsford on July 20 when he assaulted two people late in the afternoon.

"He then proceeded out to his automobile, got into his automobile and based on eyewitness statements, purposely smashed into four motor vehicles," Velardi said. "These were heavy-duty trucks he was able to move several parking spaces over, smashing them into each other."

Velardi said people tried to stop Tsopas from leaving, but he eventually reached Route 4, where he is accused of crashing head-on into a car driven by Brian Preiss. In Preiss' passenger seat was his wife of nine days, Leah Fonda.

Fonda died at Wentworth-Douglas Hospital. Preiss was seriously hurt and hospitalized in Boston until last week.

Tsopas' lawyer asked that Tsopas' $250,000 bail be reduced to $75,000 bail, suggesting a breath alcohol tester could be installed in his home, and the court could require random drug and alcohol testing.

Tsopas is charged with negligent homicide and aggravated DWI.

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